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WSJ.com Forums :: View topic - Global View: Al Gore's Doomsday Clock
Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:51 pm Post subject: Global View: Al Gore's Doomsday Clock (13 ratings)
this week's Global View column, "Al Gore's Doomsday Clock," by Bret Stephens.
publication.
for posting.
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:41 pm Post subject: Re: Global View: Al Gore's Doomsday Clock (3 ratings)
Thank God that someone is standing up to the Environmental Saviour.
It is becoming rather frightening how rational debate and discussion on Climate "Change" is squelched by his followers.
His plans will destroy this country.
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:53 pm Post subject: Re: Global View: Al Gore's Doomsday Clock (5 ratings)
An excellent description of the sujective mind of a left-wing elitist.
The idea is that a manufactured perception (the apocolyptic view of earth warming) becomes reality through brut force and completely displaces any objective logic or debate.
Al's method in this endeavor is no different than the approaches used by environmental leftists over the past 25 years.
It has driven those of us with real scientific credentials and ethical ties to truth away from these movements.
Unlike the foudation of modern conservationalism, today's foot soldiers are all too willing to 'drink the cool-aid', and most have never seen the inside of a calculus class, let alone any advanced chemistry, physics, or biology.
Thus, the efficacy of these subjective approaches that subvert facts with fear.
What may be different however about Al's new found religion is his ultimate objective.
Al has spent a great deal of time with the venture crowd over the past several years and has seen the ways money and power can motivate technological progression (sure-he saw plenty of this in D.C.
Also). Additionally, unlike many of his anti-capitalist eviro-lunes, he does believe in capital growth and wealth creation.
Could it be that Al know's that those $40/hr US labor union manufacturing jobs are staying in China, India, and pick your emerging third world country where fix costs are about 20% of what they are here (i.e.
'we need job creation).
What better opportunity to create a market boom than to manufacture a threat equal to or greater than a World war?
If our very existance is at stake, why wouldn't we hang some solar panels and harness the wind for jobs?
James D.
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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:57 am Post subject: Re: Global View: Al Gore's Doomsday Clock (4 ratings)
Mr.
Gore’s lifestyle and less than perfect ability to practice what he preaches says it all.
We don’t need to know anymore.
His behavior is not consistent with someone who actually believes that Global Warming puts “the survival of the Unites States of America as we know it at risk,” yet so many are drawn to his message.
What is becoming increasingly clear though is that Al Gore is polluting American minds with a toxic theory that if believed just might put this country at risk.
The whole Global Warming hoax is to America what some claim carbon is to the environment.
Alice Felt
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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:22 am Post subject: Re: Global View: Al Gore's Doomsday Clock (10 ratings)
While Gore is certainly guilty of using hyperbole to make a point, at least he is making the effort to provide actionable suggestions.
Blatant and divisive attacks that play to the well-known agenda of the far right (like this poor excuse for an article) are at best completely useless, and at worst, incredibly destructive.
The US failure to step up investment and use of non-carbon emitting power generation technologies is tragic;
But clearly the market sees significant future value in these technologies.
When people like T.
Boone Pickens and Lord Brown (former BP CEO) start pouring large amounts of capital in these areas, wise investors should begin to question the tired arguments against them, based on flawed analyses and out of date information, cited by the author.
The fact is that growth in electricity demand is so strong that energy policy needs to be comprehensive and explore every option.
If the author truly believes in nuclear power as a market viable option, then he should stop the divisive rhetoric and argue for a policy directive that includes nuclear.
Perhaps, he should even take up the true conservative mantle and start arguing that the US should stop spending more money maintaining a middle eastern presence than the value of the oil imported from that region, and redirect those funds to growing true long-term domestic energy independence.
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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:30 am Post subject: Re: Global View: Al Gore's Doomsday Clock (9 ratings)
Do I understand Mr.
Stephens correctly?
It's a bad idea to increase use of renewables to produce electricity because we haven't increased the use of renewables?
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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:52 am Post subject: Re: Global View: Al Gore's Doomsday Clock (7 ratings)
The author can not move above partisan politics.
This is an issue that transcends politics.
Staying stuck in that mire will not solve any problems and feeds the present atmosphere of antagonism that pervades this country right now.
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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:22 am Post subject: Re: Global View: Al Gore's Doomsday Clock (3 ratings)
Dear Mr.
Stephens,
Thank you for your concisely stated opinion concerning Mr.
Gore's NEW solution to the environmental disaster shortly to befall us.
The rhetoric seen on both sides of the issue is astounding.
Is there a problem - yes!
Is there a solution - of course!
But neither doomsday "Prophet(s) of Truth" or skirting of the issue is going to solve anything.
I was dismayed several months ago when Pres.
Bush announced "higher" federal fuel efficiency requirements for the next dozen or so years.
They seemed fairly inadequate to say the least.
But what I consider even more shocking is the unrealistic proposal here made by Mr.
Gore. The comparative difference between these two is simple: one is achievable, one is not!
And while we should set goals which will stretch, another "Ten-Year Plan" from Comrade Gore would be of far greater value if made before the vast wind turbines at Altamont Pass, near San Francisco.
He can pander to them until their remarkable efficiency soars to 25%!
Without meaning any disrespect to our former VP, I cannot help but empathize for global warming fence-sitters who see such disparity between reality and the fictitious solutions advanced by a key advocate and expert (at least in the public mind).
If I can choose a side to be on, I will most assuredly hope for a better, cleaner world.
Yet it is a practical world which I envision;
One in which political and fantastical rhetoric can be retired with 10 mpg trucks.
But for now, at least the truck will get us somewhere!
It is refreshing to read a rational column dissecting the issue and smartly critical of the societal critic.
Thank you.
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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:35 am Post subject: Re: Global View: Al Gore's Doomsday Clock (4 ratings)
Geothermal electricity has proven to be safe, clean, and reliable.
If Al Gore REALLY believed what he says, he would demand that we harness all the wasted geothermal energy released in Yellowstone.
The only "life" in the geothermically-active region of Yellowstone are bacterial or other microscopic life which can withstand the extreme temperatures and which cannot survive elsewhere.
Yellowstone could provide vast amounts of clean, safe, renewable energy to a large portion of the US, obviating the need for construction of new power plants.
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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:48 am Post subject: Re: Global View: Al Gore's Doomsday Clock (4 ratings)
Many these days are very skeptical of religion.
Most readers of this forum do not come here for Bible discussion.
But I was reminded how the followers of Mr.
Gore (disciples? acolytes?) accept his outrageous pronouncements as if he were bringing them down from on high.
I happen to believe the Bible, including the statement at the end of Revelation 11:18: "The time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth!"
Now this is not talking about Mr.
Gore, is it? Only utter hubris could lead anyone to believe that he is ever going to be able to do what God has said that He will do.
Sorry, Mr.
Gore, you are not going to bring the blessings of God's Kingdom.
Someone else already has that job.
John Patterson
Almancil, Portugal
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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 7:44 am Post subject: Re: Global View: Al Gore's Doomsday Clock (2 ratings)
Mr Stephens makes some good (even factual) points but I'm curious about "bias" (on both sides)
Was it not Mr Bush who argued for & ultimately drove implementation of subsidies for ethanol?
"Preaching", an old art, makes strange bedfellows: how many churches (now) fight over Christ?
Despite scurrilous behaviour (on all sides), can we not return to real problems (& solutions)?
Blind bias against present &/or future technologies produces "deja vu" (e.g., from 30 yrs ago)
-BOTH sides seem variously guilty & sins of "squabbling parents" are visited on their children
Whether "Global Warming" transpires (or is CO2 issue) or not, "leaders" are making a big mess!
Wind turbines have become a fig-leaf fad but many good alternate energies died of malnutrition
because "quick bucks" could not be made;
30yrs later, solar etc is discussed like a "new idea"
Let's be clear: it's a question of (real) freedom vs paying "toll-collectors" (e.g., utilities)
-and most lobbyists (left & right) are driven by centralised interests, not by people's needs.
Real practical solutions are available but politicians prefer OpEx vs CapEx (w/better real RoI)
and industry is happy to accomodate (influence) them;
The children will end up paying the bills
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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:35 am Post subject: Re: Global View: Al Gore's Doomsday Clock (5 ratings)
Mr.
Stephens' column has chosen to attack the person (Mr.
Gore) instead of the issue.
There is no doubt in any reasonably well-informed person's mind that renewable energy has severe shortcomings.
However, Mr. Stephens errs by implying that the potential for success in the future is constrained by what results we have witnessed in the marketplace today.
I do not believe that past shortcomings should doom future efforts to failure--consider the state of our US military and economy prior to World War II versus the performance during and after the colossal event.
If global leaders choose to go down the path to renewable energy, it must be done with clear dedication to success.
It will be brutal and transformative.
But, it is possible.
And, in my opinion, it is also probably worth the while for those with the courage to embark on the journey.
Richard Seltz
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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:56 am Post subject: Re: Global View: Al Gore's Doomsday Clock (4 ratings)
Al Gore desires to be the head of the Environmentalist Church, all one needs is faith.
Scott Bays, Wise, Va.
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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:05 am Post subject: Re: Global View: Al Gore's Doomsday Clock (4 ratings)
The demonization of oil and gas is a necessary ingredient of Gore's "True Believer" approach and that of the eco-crowd.
The reality that no one on either side mentions is that oil in particular is a gift from Prometheus.
It generates more energy per ounce than any alternative.
It is inexpensive to extract and process, relative to its caloric value, and it is easily transportable.
It is fungible, "scaleable," storable, and marketable, resulting in free pricing rather than regulated returns.
Contrary to what the prophets of doom say, it is plentiful and non-toxic to everyday users.
Yes, we need to insure that it is not spilled, just like we need to insure it is not ignited.
Yes, we have a problem with its location in tribal or medieval lands.
Yes, its supply is controlled by a menacing cartel made up of nouveaux riche and socially irresponsible dictators and "princes." These are problems that we know can easily be solved by tapping domestic know how and resources.
Reinventing an economy by directing it into uneconomical decisions, such as the Green WPA projects sought by Gore, Pickens and their ilk, is a prohibitively expensive "solution" to a grossly exaggerated and misrepresented problem.
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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:40 am Post subject: Re: Global View: Al Gore's Doomsday Clock (5 ratings)
Dear Bret
I respect the right to disagree ideals but when criticism turns personal as you did in your recent WSJ article about Al Gore you yourself become of diminished character to others and target of personal criticism.
I know your job is to report but if you would do just that I would not have felt compelled to write to you.
Is not only Al Gore's view that this country's economic slide into bankruptcy is ten years away or less but also the view of 80% of the people of this country.
Also, if you were as informed as you professed to be yourself you would have learned that T.
Boone Pickens said yesterday in CNN Lou Dobb's interview exactly the same thing Al Gore said last week.
Coincidence?
Now I encourage you to work for the benefit of the Nation and your family.
Be part of the solution not the problem.
Respectfully,
Martin Lagares
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